What to Expect When Working with a Video Production Company

5 things to keep in mind when hiring professionals

Why do you need video?

Video is an invaluable medium for any digital online strategy. We explored in depth in our previous post/we will be exploring in depth in our next post how video content has an enormous power to expand the reach and engagement with the story of your organization, through search engine optimization – video can potentially increase the likelihood of a front page Google result by 53 times – and through a greater emotional connection with the audience. Viewers are 10 times more likely to engage, share, embed and comment on video than readers are on blogs, because they can see, hear and ultimately feel the story behind your organization, event or product.

1. What is your video for?

Before you reach out to a Production Company it is crucial to establish what story you want your video to tell. Perhaps you are showcasing your purpose, and highlighting the issue your organization is seeking to address or change – a “This is who we are and why we’re here”. Maybe you are seeking donations, members, or publicizing a fundraising or awareness event. Or you are trying to rebrand, or engage with your established community in a fresh way. Know who your audience is, the heart of the story and determine your goals from that start so you have a solid foundation for your film. That way, your Production Company knows what to focus on.

2. Creative Collaboration

The best part of working with a Production Company is that you have a team of professional creatives who can bring the story you want to tell to life, through a collaborative process. Once you have established the ‘why’ you can sit down with your production team and start to get the creative juices flowing! Here are some key points to have in mind for that first meeting:

• The budget. Even if you don’t have an exact figure in mind, it’s extremely helpful for the Production Company to have a ballpark of what you can/want to spend. They can then give you an idea of what’s possible for what you have to work with. At One Story we know that Non-Profits and businesses don’t often have enormous marketing budgets, and we know how to produce something that surpasses expectations, without costing the earth.

• The timeframe. When is this video due by? If you know the film is for an event, which is scheduled thirty days from the initial meeting, the Production Company will be able to set out a clear schedule, and ensure any equipment and crew needed are available and booked. Bigger projects take longer to plan, so if you have a huge project in mind, make sure you give your Production Company enough time to make it happen for you!

• The Audience. Is this video going on your website, in a digital newsletter or being sent to other organizations? Do you want snippets for social media platforms like Vine and Instagram? How do you intend people to see it?

• Stylistic Do’s and Don’ts. This gives the creatives a great jumping off point. If you know that you want a lot of dynamic animation and an upbeat soundscape, tell them! If you know you don’t want naturalistic handheld camera work, and you don’t want to hire actors, tell them too! That way you can ensure that your story is being communicated in a way that complements your ‘brand’.

• Trust the professionals. These are the people with the experience and creative know-how of bringing stories to life. Use them! Trust that they are working for you to ensure that your video has the reach and impact you want, on the audience you are intended it for and tells your story. They know what works and what doesn’t – listen to their advice and allow the process to be a creative collaboration. It is good to establish the level of involvement you are expecting – do you want to ‘ok’ all creative decisions, attend the shoot and have a hand in the editing or do you want the Production Company to simply bring you the final, finished film? A balance between the two is usual!

3. Pre-Production

After finalizing the budget and film treatment/script, this stage of the process involves all the planning required for the shooting of the project: storyboarding, employing production assistants, casting actors/reaching out to interviewees, hiring equipment, sourcing locations and props – they will lead the charge on making sure that everything runs smoothly for the shoot. Make sure to maintain communication so the production team knows that everyone is on the same page, when it comes to making creative decisions. This must always be a dialogue and in the case of differing creative opinions, (finalizing cast members, script changes etc.) a healthy discussion! Alternatively, you might have hired your Production Company to film your event, in which case let them know exactly what you want them to focus on during the day – when they need to be where. That way the production team can have a precise schedule for the shoot day, and work out exactly what equipment they will need!

4. The Shoot

The Production Company will film and record your film! Depending on the nature of the project, you, or a representative from your organization, can ask to be present during this process, or at least part of it. Shoot days can be extremely long and may involve many changes of location, lighting and camera set-ups. If you choose to attend, make sure you know what your day will look like. Of course if the shoot day is filming your event, you will be there! Capturing live moments is a very different process, but if the Production Company know what story you want them to tell and how it should be one less thing for you to worry about come the day!

5. Post Production

After the project has been shot, the animation and other effects, like graphics and logos, will be assembled and it will be edited together. During this process, you will be invited to view a “rough cut” of the video so you can get an idea of how it will look once all the effects have been added. The benefit to this is the ability to make minor changes before more time has been spent finalizing the film. Once both teams are happy that the film is complete and meets (or hopefully exceeds) expectations, it can be rendered, exported and delivered to your organization!

If you have any questions about the process of video production, we would be happy to answer them! If you are thinking about enhancing your digital strategy with video content, contact us! We will help you find your unique visual voice, and work with you on your goals and expectations to deliver you exceptional content for your organization or business.

In our next blog we will be sharing tips and information on what to do with your finished film, and how to get the maximum out of your video content.